Tuesday 13 June 2023 Wallagoot Lake

 It was a bit of a dud day for a paddle on the Far South Coast - being unusually cold and overcast.  However it was the only day KT & G were available.  They are back up this way again, based in Merimbula, doing some walking with their local club.

Along with R, we met at the Yacht Club at 10.00am and after greetings all round, got ready to launch. 

By 10.30 everyone was ready to paddle.  

Heading first for the entrance, we passed over heaps of jelly fish, some of them tiny. Once we reached the bottom part of the lake the water shallowed and we found most of  the sand banks had disappeared and the deeper channels had filled with sand.  However with some toing and froing, pushing and shoving we finally made to the deeper water at the closed entrance - all except L who had followed a promising channel for some way before it petered out. By the time he had backtracked a long way we making our return. 

While at the entrance we saw a Swamp Wallaby eating on top of a little dune - you might spot him on the Go Pro footage - and then spotted another sitting quietly on top of the rearmost dune.

 

Speaking of Swampies, I think Old Wal has met his maker - we haven't seen him for over four months. Here is a short clip of Old Wal from a couple of years ago. He was a regular visitor to our garden for more than 10 years and a demon in S&V's vegie garden when they forgot to close the gate :) :)

After returning to the main lake L called for a confab - the question - it being so cold, did we want to call it a day or continue paddling? The short wearing, hardy Victorians were quick to speak for paddling on, and why not - the cold breeze was starting to weaken and feeble sunlight was breaking through the cloud layer. 

Here's the mornings GoPro footage:

A tad before noon we pulled in to find G had already scouted at our lunch site, a sunlit patch tucked behind some tussocks.  Having donned more clothing we settled down to enjoy our sangers, other assorted goodies (courtesy of R) and a good catch up.

40mins later, with a deadline to meet, 

we took to the water again to continue our paddle up the lake.

With the day being so drear we'd packed the Go Pro away. And wouldn't you know it, bird sitings came thick and fast. First this Kingfisher who let us pass close by before flitting off.

Next was a small flock of swans who ignored our presence. Then four pelicans glided low, as in just a few inches, over the water, parallel to us, for 75 metres or so before pulling up slightly to bring their feet forward for a bit of a ski until they were floating quietly on the water. Beautiful.

Finally, just as we called to G, in his usual spot out front, that it was time to head back, he called back and pointed 'what's that'.   

We all looked. Out in front of him was a black blob appearing and disappearing into the water. "A seal" somebody said. "No, it couldn't be" said L and I.  As we quietly paddled closer it popped its head up to have a good look at us and by golly it was a seal. We sat and watched until at last it vanished from our sight, wondering how it came to be in the lake.

After that little delay it was time to paddle steadily back across the lake to the Yacht Club, once again mesmerised by all the jellyfish floating by. We beached at 1.45pm,

giving KT & G plenty of time to pack up, load the boats and have a last chat, before heading back to Merimbula and the Walking Club meeting.

And for KT, who had read on line that Wallagoot was last open in 2008. The lake was open when we paddled it on Thursday 8 July 2021 (and it was a beautiful sunny day!).

PS. I'm pleased to announce the Far South Coast turned on a perfect winter's day for day 1 of the Walking Club's hike.

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out: Wallagoot Yacht Club

8.33kms

Lake Closed.

3hrs 15mins